Exercise garment

ABSTRACT

A composite exercise garment including helmet, jacket, armlets, gloves, belt, shorts, thigh leggings, calf leggings and boots, these components being detachably connected together for use either as a total composite garment, or for use separately or in various combinations, each component of the total garment having exterior pockets which may be either filled or partially filled with particulate weight materials of various densities, with the object that by using the proper components of the garment, properly weighted, and performing specified movements, exercises of any desired degree of difficulty are provided for any desired muscles or sets of muscles.

United States Patent 11 1 Jackson, Jr.

[ 1 Sept, 18, 1973 [5 EXERCISE GARMENT 347,502 1931 Great Britain 273 171 [76] Inventor: James W. Jackson, Jr., 9246 Newton overland Park) Kans- Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham 66212 Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Shapiro 22 Filed; July 5 72 Attorney-John A. Hamilton [21] Appl. No.: 269,260

[57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl. 272/57 R, 27'2/57 D, 272/67 [51] Int. Cl. A631) 21/18 A composite exercise garment including helmet, [58] Field of Search 272/57 R, 57 D, 67, jacket armlets gloves, be, shorts, thigh leggings, lf 272/81; 2,21 21 x1 126 leggings and boots, these components being detachably connected together for use either as a total composite [56] References and garment, or for use separately or in various combina- UNITED STATES PATENTS tions, each component of the total garment having ex- 2,9'/3,521 3/1961 McGowan 2 2.1 R terior Pockets which y be either filled Partially 3,128,095 4/1964 Sharkey 272/57 R filled with particulate weight materials of various densi- 2,241,833 5/1941 Waller 272/57 D ties, with the object that by using the proper compo- 3,366,380 1/1968 Montour 272/57 D nts of the garment, properly weighted, and perfo 1( FMfedenhagen ing specified movements, exercises of any desired deason I I gree of d1fficulty are provlded for any desn'ed muscles 2,163,091 6/1939 Held 273/171 or Sets of muscles FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 218,063 7/1967 Sweden 272/57 R 9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 74 74' 7 24 74 .22 1 a J4 10 2 22 f .10 5 .2! J6 {ffl M\ 7 44 w. W

p 4 42 i7 74 73, A 42 44 l 7 ,m m 7 D 7 fifl H W U n 6 Z 43 55155 2115; ,7 4 3'4 r r- W W 711 1 m 7 0 u a B J79 70 11 7a 74 fly V 70 f 70 m min w 2;

a w 74 74! l8 5.: 70 m M EXERCISE GARMENT This invention relates to new and useful improvements in exercise garments, and has particular reference to an exercise garment wherein resistance to muscle action is increased by weights carried by the garment. It has been designed particularly for use by professional and other athletes, but obviously could be used by anyone.

An important object of the present invention is extreme flexibility and adaptability of the garment to provide weight-resisted exercise selectively for many different portions of the body or different sets of body muscles. To this end the total garment consists of several components, such as a helmet, jacket, armlets, gloves, shorts, thigh leggings, calf leggings, and boots, detachably connected together and each carrying weights. When all of these components are used, they cover the entire area of the wearers body except his face, so that weights can be applied to virtually any desired area of the body, but the components can also be used separately and in various combinations, so that only those components actually desired or required in each individual set of circumstances need be used. The flexibility of usage is further enhanced by the fact that both the total mass of weight carried by each garment component, and its disposition relative to said component, may be adjusted. This may be accomplished by the use of weight materials of different densities, secured selectively to different areas of each garment component.

Another object is the provision of an exercise garment of the character described having novel provisions for greater comfort. Each garment component is releasably attached to and hence derives support from contiguous components, and thereby obviates requirements that said components be tightly secured to the wearers body to avoid shifting of the weights relative to his body regardless of the positions he-may assume during exercise movements. This avoids tight constric tion of the garment about the wearers body, and permits freer movement. Also, the weight material consists of particulate matter contained in flexible pockets of the garment components. Flexible pockets, thus loaded, conform to the contours of the wearers body, and avoid objectionable stiffening of the garment.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, and efficiency and dependability of operation.

With these objects in view, as well as other objects which will appear in the course of the specification, reference will be .had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of an exercise garment embodying the present invention,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line II-II of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of one of the boot components of the garment.

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the several views. FIG. 1 shows a general view of the garment as contemplated by the present invention, indicated generally by the numeral 2. Said garment consists of any integrated combination of the following garment components: helmet 4, jacket 6, forearm armlets 8, gloves 10, a wide belt 12, shorts l4, thigh leggings 16, calf leggings l8, and boots 20. It is not necessary that all of the components be worn at the same time. Said garments are formed generally of a strong, pliable material, preferably porous to admit air for greater comfort, but may have inserts of a tough, elastic material such as a stretch nylon at key points to permit greater freedom of movement of the wearer, such as inserts 22 over the shoulders and under the arms of jacket 6, and at other points if desired.

Helmet 4 covers the head of the wearer in the usual way, having a front opening 24 for exposing the face of the wearer. It also has a neck portion 26, which is adopted to be detachably connected along its entire lower edge to the neckline 28 of jacket 6 by any suitable fastening means, such as a common slide fastener or zipper" 30. Also encircling neck portion 26 of the helmet is a drawstring 32, retained by keeper loops 34 attached to the helmet neck, which may be tied under the wearers chin as at 36. Jacket 6 is adapted to be donned in the usual manner, the front panel thereof being vertically divided but adapted to be secured by a vertical slide fastener 38 or other suitable fastening means, and is provided with sleeves 40 of slightly less than elbow length.

Forearm armlets 8 are of course tubular, and extend the sleeves to wrist length. Each of said armlets is detachably connected at its upper end to the associated jacket sleeve by a slide fastener 42 encircling the peripheries thereof. Each armlet is also provided with a pair of drawstring ties 44 and 46 encircling it respectively adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof, similar to drawstring 32, and adapted to be tied respectively just below the elbow and just above the wrist of the wearer. Each glove 10 is also worn in the usual manner, and is detacha'bly connected at its wrist to the lower end of the associated armlet 8 by an encircling slide fastener 48.

Belt 12 is quite wide, perhaps as much as 6 inches, and encircles the wearers waist in the usual manner, being secured snugly by straps 50 and buckles 52. Along substantially its entire upper edge, it is detachably connected to the waistline of jacket 6 by a slide fastener 54 or the like. Shorts 14 are worn over the hip and groin area in the usual manner, and substantially the entire length of the lower edge: of belt 12 is detachably secured to the waistline of said shorts by a slide fastener 56. Thigh leggings l6 and calf leggings 18 are of course tubular, and enclose respectively the thighs and calves of the wearer, each thigh legging being detachably secured at its upper end to the corresponding leg opening of shorts 14 by encircling slide fastener 58, and at its lower end to the upper end of the corresponding calf legging 18 by an encircling slide fastener 60. Boots 20 are worn on the feet in the usual manner, and the ankle opening of each boot is'detachably connected to the lower end of the associated calf legging by an encircling slide fastener 62. Each boot is provided with an ankle strap 64 of ordinary design, by means of which the boot may be secured on the wearer's foot. Also, each calf legging 18 is provided, in a manner similar to armlets 8, with a pair of drawstrings 66 and 68 respectively adjacent its upper and;lower ends, and adapted.

to be tied respectively just below the knee and above the ankle of the wearer.

Each of the garment components thus described is provided with a plurality of exterior pockets 70 for containing a weight material 72, as indicated in FIG. 2. Each pocket may be formed by a sheet of material, also flexible to avoid stiffening of the garment, stitched or otherwise affixed to the base fabric of the garment component. Each pocket is completely closed by a slide fastener 74, which may be opened to permit insertion or removal of weight material 72. Said weight material is preferably of loose particulate form, in order to avoid undue stiffening of the pockets, and hence of the garment in general. lt may consist, for example, of sawdust, sand, or lead or steel shot, used separately or in combinations or mixtures to provide any density, and hence total mass, which may be desired. It is possible to vary the total weight carried by any garment component, and also the disposition of said weight, not only by the selection of the weight material 72 carried in each pocket, but also by either filling or not filling each pocket, or by only partially filling it. However, partial filling of any pocket is generally not desirable, since this permits shifting of the weight material in the pocket as the user engages in the motions of exercise, and such shifting may interfere with the movements or balance of the user. It is contemplated that a fully adequate range of weights, in adequately small increments, may be obtained with each pocket containing weight material, completely filled to avoid shifting, by making pockets 70 sufficiently small and by selection of weight materials of the proper density. An extremely wide range of densities can be obtained by intermixing a lowdensity material such as sawdust with high-density materials such as metal shot.

The particular number, size, and disposition of pockets 70 carried by each component of the garment is largely a matter of choice, design, and individual preference. As shown, helmet 4 has pockets at each side of the top or dome portion thereof, and pockets at each side thereof over the ears. Jacket 6 has pockets on the front panel thereof, and it will be understood that it may also have pockets on the rear panel thereof, though not under the arms as this would inhibit freedom of arm movement. Jacket sleeves 40 ordinarily would not be provided with pockets, both because they would interfere with arm movement, and also because any muscles loaded thereby are more efficiently exercised by the forearm weights. Armlets 8 may have pockets around the entire circumferences thereof. Gloves 10 may have pockets on the backs of the hand portions and finger portions thereof. Belt 12 may have pockets along the entire length thereof. Shorts 14 would ordinarily be relatively free of pockets, in order not to interfere with free flexure of the wearers hips, but may have pockets at the back thereofjust below the waistline thereof, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. I. Thigh leggings would ordinarily have pockets only at the front, as pockets at the rear thereof would interfere with knee flexure, but calfleggings 18 can have pockets both front and rear. Boots 20, as shown, have pockets at each side of both the toe and ankle portions thereof.

An extremely important feature of the present invention is the consecutively attached or joined relation of the various components of the garment, which provides cooperation between these components whereby each component supports or anchors, and is in turn supported or anchored by, contiguous components to prevent shifting or movement of the garment components relative to the wearers body by the forces applied thereto by the weights, regardless of the position the user may assume during exercise. Furthermore, this relationship exists between any two or more components of the garment, integrated or connected together in combination as described, so that not all of the components need be used at any one time, but only those components desired. For example, helmet 4 both supports jacket 6, or is supported by said jacket if the user is upside down at any time, the jacket deriving support from the users armpits in such an inverted position. If the jacket is not used but the helmet is, drawstring 32 can be tightened and tied to anchor the helmet in place. In turn, the jacket supports, or is supported by, belt 12, the belt supports or is supported by shorts 14, the shorts being supported by the wearers crotch when in an inverted position, the shorts support or are supported by thigh leggings 16, the thigh leggings support or are supported by calf leggings l8, and the calf leggings support or are supported by boots 20. if the boots are not used but the leggings are, drawstrings 68 are tightened to anchor the garment at the ankles. If the boots and calf leggings are used but not the thigh leggings, drawstrings 66 are tightened to secure the leggings and boots in place. If the boots are used with no leggings, they must be secured by ankle straps 64. Operation with respect to armlets 8 is much the same as that of calf leggings 18. That is, said armlets are supported by jacket sleeves 40, and in turn support gloves l0, drawstrings 46 being tied if the armlets are used without the gloves, and drawstrings 44 being tightened if the armlets and gloves are used without the jacket. If the armlets are used without jacket or gloves, or if calf leggings 18 are used without thigh leggings or boots,

then both of the drawstrings of any such armlet or calf legging must be tied.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, it will be readily apparent that many minor changes of structure and operation could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An exercise garment comprising:

a. a plurality of garment components including a helmet, a jacket detachably secured at its neckline to said helmet, armlets detachably connected to said jacket, gloves detachably connected at their wrists to said armlets, a belt securable about the wearers waist, and detachably connected at its upper edge to the waistline of said jacket, shorts detachably connected at their waistline to the lower edge of said belt, thigh leggings detachably connected at their upper ends to the leg openings of said shorts, calf leggings detachably connected at their upper ends to the lower ends of said thigh leggings, and boots each detachably connected at its ankle opening to the lower end of one of said calf leggings, and

b. weights carried by each of the garment compo nents in said integrated combination of components.

2. An exercise garment as recited in claim 1 wherein contiguous components of said integrated combination of garment components are detachably connected along substantially the total lengths of the contiguous edges of said garment components.

3. An exercise garment as recited in claim 1 wherein contiguous components of said integrated combination of garment components are detachably connected by means consisting of slide fasteners extending along substantially the total lengths of the contiguous edges of said garment components.

4. An exercise garment as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said garment components is provided with one or more closable pockets, and wherein said weights are removably inserted in said pockets.

5. An exercise garment as recited in claim 4 wherein said weights consist of quantities of loose, particulate matter inserted in said pockets, whereby said pockets are not appreciably stiffened by said weights.

6. An exercise garment as recited in claim 1 wherein said helmet is provided with a neck portion, and with the addition of tie means carried by said helmet neck portion and adapted to restrict said neck portion about the wearers neck to secure said helmet in place when said jacket is not used.

7. An exercise garment as recited in claim I wherein said armlets are adapted to enclose the wearers arms generally from wrist to elbow, and with the addition of a pair of tie means carried by each of said armlets respectively adjacent the elbow and wrist ends thereof, said tie members being operable to constrict said armlet about the wearer's arm to secure said armlet in place, and being adapted for use respectively when said jacket and said gloves are not used.

8. An exercise garment as recited in claim 1 wherein said calf leggings are adapted to enclose the wearer's legs generally from knee to ankle, and with the addition of a pair of tie members carried by each of said calfleggings respectively adjacent the knee and ankle ends thereof, said tie members being operable to constrict said calf legging about the wearer's leg to secure said legging in place, and being adapted for use respectively when said thigh leggings and said boots are not used.

9. An exercise garment as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said boots is provided with a portion enclosing the wearers ankle, and with the addition of tie means carried by each boot and operable to constrict the ankle portion of said boot about the wearers ankle to secure said boot in place when the corresponding calf legging is not used. 

1. An exercise garment comprising: a. a plurality of garment components including a helmet, a jacket detachably secured at its neckline to said helmet, armlets detachably connected to said jacket, gloves detachably connected at their wrists to said armlets, a belt securable about the wearer''s waist, and detachably connected at its upper edge to the waistline of said jacket, shorts detachably connected at their waistline to the lower edge of said belt, thigh leggings detachably connected at their upper ends to the leg openings of said shorts, calf leggings detachably connected at their upper ends to the lower ends of said thigh leggings, and boots each detachably connected at its ankle opening to the lower end of one of said calf leggings, and b. weights carried by each of the garment components in said integrated combination of components.
 2. An exercise garment as recited in claim 1 wherein contiguous components of said integrated combination of garment components are detachably connected along substantially the total lengths of the contiguous edges of said garment components.
 3. An exercise garment as recited in claim 1 wherein contiguous components of said integrated combination of garment components are detachably connected by means consisting of slide fasteners extending along substantially the total lengths of the contiguous edges of said garment components.
 4. An exercise garment as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said garment components is provided with one or more closable pockets, and wherein said weights are removably inserted in said pockets.
 5. An exercise garment as recited in claim 4 wherein said weights consist of quantities of loose, particulate matter inserted in said pockets, whereby said pockets are not appreciably stiffened by said weights.
 6. An exercise garment as recited in claim 1 wherein said helmet is provided with a neck portion, and with the addition of tie means carried by said helmet neck portion and adapted to restrict said neck portion about the wearer''s neck to secure said helmet in place when said jacket is not used.
 7. An exercise garment as recited in claim 1 wherein said armlets are adapted to enclose the wearer''s arms generally from wrist to elbow, and wiTh the addition of a pair of tie means carried by each of said armlets respectively adjacent the elbow and wrist ends thereof, said tie members being operable to constrict said armlet about the wearer''s arm to secure said armlet in place, and being adapted for use respectively when said jacket and said gloves are not used.
 8. An exercise garment as recited in claim 1 wherein said calf leggings are adapted to enclose the wearer''s legs generally from knee to ankle, and with the addition of a pair of tie members carried by each of said calf leggings respectively adjacent the knee and ankle ends thereof, said tie members being operable to constrict said calf legging about the wearer''s leg to secure said legging in place, and being adapted for use respectively when said thigh leggings and said boots are not used.
 9. An exercise garment as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said boots is provided with a portion enclosing the wearer''s ankle, and with the addition of tie means carried by each boot and operable to constrict the ankle portion of said boot about the wearer''s ankle to secure said boot in place when the corresponding calf legging is not used. 